Government & Politics

Shale Gas Advisory Board Recommendations

August 12, 2011
environmental-issues

The Shale Gas Advisory Board called for “making information about shale gas production operations more accessible to the public; taking immediate and long-term actions to reduce the environmental and safety risks of shale gas operations, with a particular focus on protecting air and water quality; creating a Shale Gas Industry Operation organization committed to improving operating practices; and continuing research and development to improve safety and environmental performance.”

More at UPI.com.

Reconsidering the New Martinsville, WV Drilling Ban

August 12, 2011
government-politics

The City Council of New Martinsville, West Virginia voted to ban Marcellus Shale gas drilling within their city limits. However, their next meeting was filled with people who objected to the ban. Now they plan to reconsider.

More at FuelFix.com.

New York Sues Federal Government Over Hydraulic Fracturing

June 1, 2011
government-politics

An article in the New York Times reports that the State of New York has sued the federal government to force an environmental assessment of the potential risks of hydraulic fracturing, a widely used method for enhancing natural gas and oil production from tight reservoirs.

Expert Panel has 90 Days to Make Fracking Cleaner and Safer

May 11, 2011
environmental-issues

Natural gas is a key factor in our long-term energy strategy. A panel of experts has been tasked with finding immediate steps to make hydraulic fracturing cleaner and safer. More in the New York Times.

Drilling the Marcellus Shale on Pennsylvania Game Lands

May 9, 2011
government-politics

The Pennsylvania Game Commission hopes to generate millions of dollars in revenue by expanding the natural gas leasing program on Pennsylvania Game Lands. More in the Wall Street Journal.

Buffalo Common Council Bans Hydraulic Fracturing

May 9, 2011
government-politics

Hydraulic fracturing was banned within the city limits of Buffalo, New York as the Buffalo Common Council passed the “Buffalo Community Protection from Natural Gas Extraction Ordinance”. An article on the EPOnline.com website reports on the vote and includes a video showing some of the public testimony that was received before passing.

Are Ohio Severance Taxes on Oil and Natural Gas Too Low?

May 9, 2011
government-politics

An article in the Lancaster Eagle Gazette explains how the State of Ohio is taking in very little from oil and gas drilling being done in the state and compares their income with that of other oil and gas producing states.

Foreign Ownership of United States Gas Shales

March 31, 2011
foreign-gas-shales

A letter published in The Ithaca Journal complains about the many foreign companies who have purchased major stakes in United States gas shale companies.

Drilling for Shale Gas in Ohio State Parks?

March 19, 2011
drilling-activity

The Marcellus Shale, Utica Shale and Upper Devonian Shales are beneath many of Ohio’s State Parks. Some members of Ohio State Government would like to obtain the lease and royalty monies from those lands while environmentalists oppose that drilling. More in the Columbus Dispatch.

Two Year Marcellus Shale Drilling Delay in Maryland?

February 27, 2011
government-politics

The Baltimore Sun has an article reporting that Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s administration wants to delay Marcellus Shale drilling in Western Maryland for two years – which is needed for a study of drilling risks.

No Hydraulic Fracturing or Waste Water Disposal in Buffalo

February 17, 2011
environmental-issues

The Common Council of Buffalo, New York voted to ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing within city limits. In addition, it bans the disposal of drilling waste water anywhere within the city. More at Empire State News.

Local Government Groups Want to Cash in on Gas Shales

February 2, 2011
government-politics

An article in the Business Journal Daily explains why many state, county and community governments are interested in offering their land for natural gas drilling. This article focuses on county governments in northeastern Ohio who consider leasing their Marcellus Shale and Utica Shale acreages.

Public Opposition to Utica Shale Development in Quebec

January 30, 2011
canada-gas

An article in the Montreal Gazette says that development of the Utica Shale in Quebec is encountering public opposition. In Quebec, landowners do not directly participate in natural gas royalties and lease payments as is customary in the United States.

Out-of-State Gas Workers

January 27, 2011
gas-pipelines

An article on the WBOY.com website explores some issues related to out-of-state workers who have jobs in the new shale gas plays. The article seems to be written from the understandable perspective of an unemployed person who lives in the gas play rather than a gas industry manager who needs to get wells or pipeline completed as rapidly as possible.

Can the Nitrogen Content of Natural Gas Determine Its Source?

January 25, 2011

Natural gas has been found in two private water wells in Parker County, Texas. The nitrogen content of the gas may determine if Barnett Shale drilling activity by Range Resources is the source or if the source is shallower rock units. More in the Washington Examiner.

Where Did That Gas Come From?

January 19, 2011

Two household water supplies in Parker County, Texas are contaminated with methane. EPA says that the gas came from Range Resources wells drilled into the Barnett Shale. Range Resources says that the gas came from the Strawn Formation which is much shallower. More in a Star-Telegram.com article.

Texas Rule 37 and Holdout Landowners

January 16, 2011

The Texas Railroad Commission’s Rule 37 is the subject of an editorial in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The author explains how this rule that regulates the spacing of oil and gas wells seems to be used to as a way to avoid dealing with Barnett Shale holdout landowners.

Is Congress Neglecting Natural Gas?

January 14, 2011
climate-change

In a blog post on the Reuter’s.com website, Christopher Swann, argues that Washington could take easy steps to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, reduce carbon emissions and save citizens money by promoting the use of natural gas in vehicles and electricity generation. He thinks that the natural gas lobby needs to work harder than those promoting coal and railroads.

Outgoing Pennsylvania DEP Director Comments on the Marcellus

January 14, 2011
government-politics

A blog post at BizJournals.com by Lauren Lawley Head includes a large number of quotes related to the Marcellus Shale from an “agency accomplishments” report by John Hanger, former director of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

More Local Governments Try to Ban Natural Gas Activity

January 12, 2011
government-politics

Local governments are starting to ban natural gas drilling within their areas of jurisdiction. Here’s another example from Maryland. Some people believe this is a “protection” and others believe it is a “taking”… but it will probably produce horizontal drilling on the outskirts of town. More at Bloomberg.com.

EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Research Study

December 30, 2010
environmental-issues

This is a June, 2010 fact sheet that explains why EPA is studying hydraulic fracturing and the connection between natural ground waters and the fluids used in the hydraulic fracturing process.

“Public concerns have focused recently on the impacts of the hydraulic fracturing process used during natural gas production from shale and coalbed methane formations.” Quoted from the EPA fact sheet.

Marcellus Shale Road Damage Complaints

December 29, 2010
drilling-activity

Damage to roads caused by vehicles used to develop the Marcellus Shale is getting attention at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. More at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Delaware River Basin: Natural Gas Development Regulations

December 28, 2010
government-politics

The Delaware River Basin Commission is proposing a new Article 7 of DRBC’s Water Quality Regulations to protect the water resources of the Basin during the construction and operation of natural gas development projects. This Article applies to all natural gas development projects involving siting, construction or use of production, exploratory or other wells in the Basin regardless of the target geologic formation, and to water withdrawals, well pad and related activities and wastewater disposal activities comprising part of, associated with or serving such projects. Quoted from the DRBC factsheet.

Ways to Manage the Marcellus Shale Resource

December 27, 2010
drilling-activity

Over the past few years natural gas companies have been drilling the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania but have been blocked from drilling in New York because of environmental concerns. An article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offers several different perspectives on the two methods of resource management.

Moratorium on Marcellus Drilling Permits in Maryland?

December 20, 2010
government-politics

An article in the Baltimore Sun proposes a moratorium on Marcellus Shale drilling permits in Maryland – until the state determines that hydraulic fracturing is safe.

How the United States Should Promote the Use of Natural Gas

December 20, 2010
government-politics

LeadEnergy.com has published an “opinion piece” that explains – in great detail – how the United States should promote the use of natural gas. This is a rather biased piece of writing but it has a few interesting ideas.

Two Maine LNG Terminals are Dead – One Still Pending

December 19, 2010
environmental-issues

Three developers have proposed liquefied natural gas import terminals in the Passamaquoddy Bay area of Maine – Calais LNG, Quoddy Bay LNG and Downeast LNG. Quoddy’s application was dismissed, Calais withdrew their application last week and now, Downeast is the only application pending. More at the Maine Sunday Telegram.

Indiana State Government to Buy $6.9 Billion in Synthetic Gas

December 19, 2010
government-politics

The state of Indiana will enter into a $6.9 billion, 30-year contract to purchase natural gas produced from a coal-gasification facility in southern Indiana. The state plans to resell the gas to local utility companies. A goal is to keep their energy money within the state. More at Bloomberg.com.

Philadelphia City Council: “Ban Natural Gas Drilling”

December 15, 2010
environmental-issues

Concerned about the purity of their water supply, the Philadelphia City Council has called for a ban on Marcellus Shale gas drilling until the EPA says that it is safe. More at NewsWorks.org.

Drilling for Natural Gas Beneath a State Park

December 15, 2010
government-politics

This National Geographic article from October 17, 2010 is not “current news”, however, it includes some interesting perspectives related to drilling for natural gas from the Marcellus Shale beneath State Park lands in southwestern Pennsylvania. Issues include: environmental impact, development footprint, who gets the royalties and more.